What are the impressions of the adventures in Barcelona from the editor-in-chief?

Continuation of the travel notes of Philip Berezin

Here comes the second day of the travel notes from our editor-in-chief, Philip Berezin, dedicated to his adventures in sunny Spain. All materials can be found in the section titled "Spanish Dream."

Day two. Barcelona and its neighboring areas

10:15. We are at the office of Top House Realty. For our vacation, we chose the charming town of Castelldefels, located just fifteen minutes from the airport and half an hour from Barcelona itself. These small but prestigious suburbs, while unable to compete with the beauty of the city center, delight with wonderful beaches and good transportation links. Unfortunately, this time we weren't very lucky with traffic jams on the roads, which significantly increased our travel time, and as the employees of Top House Realty noted, it became a real challenge for us.

The office of this company is located in a very picturesque area of Eixample, right in the heart of Barcelona. The space is decorated in the Catalan modernist style and looks impressive — huge windows of amazing shapes and elegant plasterwork on the ceilings. One thing to note is the antique elevator in the entrance, which is rumored to be one of the first in the city. It was a bit scary to step into it — there was a doubt whether it would hold us.

In a very short time, we got to know the employees of Top House Realty, and to our surprise, it turned out to be a real family. Vitaliy's mom, Yuri's dad, their children Evelina and Robert, as well as their spouses Manuel and Maria make up this close-knit team. It's not just an ordinary business environment here, but a true family atmosphere where respect and friendly jokes come first. Our visit became a great reason for cheerful conversations and laughter.

The process of shooting and communication

In the next hour, we had a great time gathering the necessary interviews so that, as Vitaly noted, everything would turn out "top-notch." However, watching people's reactions in front of the camera and microphone makes you start to wonder what is happening to them. Just a moment ago, they were speaking with ease and confidence, and now they suddenly began to nervously fidget with their fingers, laugh, and make rather strange sounds. Our attempts to calm them down by reminding them that this is not a live broadcast turned out to be completely useless.

During the discussion of each phrase, family members engaged in lively debates, adding their comments, genuinely laughing at each other, and winking at their conversation partners, which created an incredibly cheerful atmosphere. The filming process brought joy to everyone, as they could playfully tease one another and enjoy their work.

Exit from the office

As a result, to capture the best moments, we decided to leave the office together with Maria and Manuel, and it really turned out to be a great decision — they showed themselves to be mature and professional!

Sunny landscapes of Barcelona

The sunny landscapes of Barcelona create a unique atmosphere, perfect for sharing stories about our adventures. It's 4:15 PM. Unfortunately, the weather on Mount Tibidabo isn't cooperating with us during the shoot.

I remember how in the wonderful May of 2016, out of 18 days of shooting in Germany, only three were sunny, including the days of arrival and departure. And now, even in sunny Barcelona, it seems that nature has decided that it can't do without rain.

Adventures on Tibidabo

We climbed to the top of Tibidabo, the name of which, having "African" origins, still puzzles me, to capture the "delightful landscape," but, to our great disappointment, we were met only with a gray sky and buildings barely visible through the fog. It was a letdown...

Moreover, the view from this mountain didn't leave me with any strong impressions — in my opinion, it's quite ordinary. It's like watching ant hills: interesting, but everything seems too similar to each other. It's hard to make out anything specific; you can only imagine the chaos of the streets and once again confirm that Barcelona is indeed a huge city.

Return to the city

Evelina and Manel took us back, and we soon realized that the rain in the city was only getting heavier. By the time we arrived on Diagonal Mar Street, a heavy downpour had started!

Sham, just starting to unpack the drone, sadly wiped a raindrop from his hand and sank into gloom... It's 5:30 PM. We spent half an hour in the car, entertaining ourselves with grim jokes about the whims of the weather. But sometimes miracles do happen — the rain unexpectedly stopped. Although the sky remained overcast, it no longer mattered significantly.

Diagonal Mar area

The Mar Diagonal is a modern, stylish area, and it's worth noting that it's not very large: just a few high-rise buildings, each 25 stories tall, arranged in two lines.

• Between them lies a small but picturesque green area measuring approximately 100 by 200 meters.
• However, if you want to live closer to the center, it's hard to be too picky.
• Moreover, the sea, or rather a good beach, is just a few steps away — you just need to cross the road.

Amazing apartment for filming

We found an apartment for filming that is simply magnificent in every way. It occupies the top two floors and is located on the corner of the building, allowing us to enjoy a breathtaking view from two sides.

We saw the famous towers of the Sagrada, the port, and even planes landing in the distance. I can't recall his exact words, but the owner of the apartment casually mentioned that he often rents out his place to various filmmakers looking for unusual locations to shoot.

Impressive apartment owner

By the way, the owner made an impression on me just as much as his impressive property.

On the way to the hotel, Robert noticed that wealthy residents of Spain do not place much importance on social status. We drove through the "diagonal" before returning to the street, but an unexpected rain once again disrupted our plans for a walk.

Third day

We were in Barcelona and its surroundings. At 10:10 AM, we arrived at the Sagrada Familia. This day brought Robert wonderful news: he received an official notification of victory in a significant architectural competition that our team participated in this year. Bureaucratic matters in Spain are quite comfortable, and preparing the necessary documents took about two weeks.

Inspired by the news, we headed to the Sagrada Familia to film a stand-up against the backdrop of hundreds of tourists. Interestingly, Robert does not consider the most famous landmark in Barcelona to be outstanding compared to other works by Gaudí. In his opinion, the great Catalan had a completely different vision that modern architects have distorted. To be honest, I'm not very knowledgeable about this topic, but talking to a professional allows you to see things in a new light.

The old part of the Sagrada, which has been around for over a hundred years, still looks fresh and appealing, while the newer elements are perceived as less interesting and heavier.

Gothic Quarter

At 11:30, we arrived at the Gothic Quarter in the height of the heat and immediately felt that time was running short. A walk through ancient Barcelona with a real architect is significantly different from a tour with a regular guide, even if they are very knowledgeable. We could have listened to Robert endlessly, but our time was limited to just 40 minutes. We decided to prepare some materials on-site, and I am convinced that it will be extremely engaging.

As for buying property in the Gothic Quarter, I think it's pure madness.There are plenty of tourists there....like mosquitoes in the hot season, and there aren't that many offers in the real estate market. Nevertheless, we were shown one interesting apartment.

Miracles at the doorstep

Miracles begin at the threshold. The mind seems to explode when one of the ordinary doors (in this case, massive and majestic, a true work of art) opens not into a museum or restaurant, but into a private residence. Next, we enter a hallway with a huge staircase and a space that is hard to call anything other than a hall. The apartment itself is stunning: the old masonry, high ceilings—all of it harmonizes beautifully, and the large windows "look" out onto a green courtyard, freeing us from the feeling of tourist chaos outside.

Lunch in Castelldefels

At 2:00 PM, we arrived in Castelldefels and Gava Mar. Most Spanish restaurants offer a lunch menu where you can choose two main courses and a dessert. The food is usually very tasty, although it depends a lot on the specific establishment. This time, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Gava Mar fitness club.

Introduction

The second part of my travel notes about my trip to Spain has come to an end, and I can't help but share my impressions of Barcelona and its surroundings. The journey was not only exciting but also educational, revealing a lot about the culture and lifestyle of the Spanish people.

Castelldefels: comfort and convenience

The time spent in Castelldefels, although less vibrant compared to the city center, allowed me to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the prestigious suburbs. I was surprised at how well-organized the public transport was, despite the constant traffic jams that became a familiar backdrop for our tour.

Top House Realty Office: Family Ties

The Top House Realty office, located in the heart of Barcelona, has become a symbol of warmth and friendship. You could really feel the close-knit family working towards a common goal. The atmosphere was so lively that even a simple shoot turned into an entertaining show, full of jokes and playful teasing.

Mount Tibidabo: the unpredictability of nature

On Mount Tibidabo, despite the whims of the weather, the landscapes became a peculiar reminder that sometimes expectations do not match reality. However, this did not spoil my mood; on the contrary, such moments only add unpredictability to travels. And even when the rain suddenly arrived, it did not break the team's spirit.

Diagonal of Mar: Contrasts of Life

The highlight of our day was the shoot in the Diagonal Mar area. The spacious apartment with a fantastic view provided a wealth of vibrant emotions. Every detail in this amazing space was awe-inspiring, and I couldn't help but be struck by the contrast between the owner's outward appearance -modest and unremarkable- and his magnificent property.

Conclusion: warmth and friendship

In conclusion, I realize that Spain offers not only stunning landscapes and rich architecture but also genuine human warmth. Every meeting, every conversation filled this day with meaning and left an indelible mark on my soul. There are many more discoveries ahead, and I eagerly await the continuation of my Spanish journey.